Molded pulp carton press



June 2, 1953 A. E. COMSTOCK 2,640,402

MOLDED PULP CARTON PRESS Filed April 7, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet l June 2, 1953 A. E. coMsTocK MOLDED PULP CARTON PRESS E3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1951 INVENTOR. I

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MOLDED PULP CARTON PRESS June 2, 1953 Filed April 7, 1951 June 2, 1953 A. E. coMsTocK MOLDED PULP CARTON PRESS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 7, 1951 Il vll-Illu!!| June 2 1953 A. E. oMs'rocK 2,640,402

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June v2, 1953 A. E. oMsrocK MOLDED PULP CARTON PRss .8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April '7, 1951 INVENTOR.

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MOLDED PULP CARTON PREss Filed April 7, 1951 a sheets-sheet 7 IN VEN TOR.

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June 2, 1953 Filed April 7,1951

COMSTOCK MOLDED PULP CARTON PRESS a sheets-sheet a IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 2, 1953 "MOLDEDLPULP CARTON PRESS .Alfred.-E.f.Comstock,llaimer, Mass., assignor to .fShelimarrProducts Corporatioml Chic'a'gof Iil.,'ia

' corporation off Delaware 'Application Apil'7, 1951,1Serial`No. .219;841

a GGlaimS. (0159268 *This invention relates,` generally, try-apparatus for--pressingmoldedpulp articles, such as egg cartons,- after they haveffbeenm'oldedIar-id dried, fori'thepurpose of-squaring-up such articles and giving fra smooth ironed I or f calendered nish thereto.

"This-application `is a continuation-impart -of myfcopending application SeriaLNo. 183,945 led SeptemberQ; 1950.

Whenfmolded pulp #articles such as-fegg-cartonsl-areemade in-accordance with the conventional-manner inA which ai layer of `pu-lp isi for-med over a foraminous die or screen and the ``Wet molded article is passed through a drier, the dried articles Willusuallylnotebe exactly square ortrue to f'shape v-a1fid their surfaces will have Y a' rough finish. According to the -fpresent invention Al1 havel foundl a-fpracticall apparatus 'and method for pressingthedried molded pulp f' articles--l as they are strippe'danddischarged f'from-the 'molding apparatus 1so-as-togive the -articles -a-smooth calendered'` or'- ironed finish and Lal-so -to right `or square -up-the-articles and take-v out any warpage orwdistortion-which may have set-in 'during drying.

An important object of the'finventionfis @the combinationn'ofeinishing press -with gravity: delivery .chutes leading from: a 1 pulp molding machine.

.An importantfobject ofthe invention--ishto hotpressadry molde'dl pulp `:articles `sofas to impart-a iinished suriacelthereto and also -to scfuaref up the articles as 'they`v are discharged Lthroughinclined chutesl leadingfromlthe"stripper of `an automatic type .molded pulp: article -Lmaking machine to Aa conveyoriorfxremoving Ythe. finished Aarticle away therefrom.

Anotherzimportant object of the invention is to simultaneouslyhot-press.and form'- fold scoring in drying :molded pulp .articles Las `they `are discharged :through .inclined chutes ileading from the-.stripper sof :an :automatic l.type `molded pulp article making machine to a conveyorfor the nished articles.

Another important object of .the-.invention is the combination Lofuan automatically lcontrolled press for :.dryiinolded .V pulp articles, lsuch as :eg-g car-tons, as they are discharged .through 'a '.'chute leading fromastripper of anautomatic' typeipuip molding. and drying-machine tol aconveyorl'eading away therefrom, lthe press being operatively interconnected with the. molded pulpV articlelmaking machine .and the control gates-cf'ithedischarge chuteV so that-:the :operation of the press is synchronized .with that ofthe article lpro'ducing machine.

Another important object of the invention is an I-aiiitomatic '-ltypefln-ishing Afpress fior Arighting up and surface-'fnishing-rmolded 1 pulp articles, such as egg `cartons, Which-isadapted to 'be installed in a discharge chute for thefmoldedv-pulp articles -l-fandto he controlled -bythe apparatus which delivers the molded pulp articles into the chiite.

Another important object' of' the-invention is an automaticity-pehydraulic#press forfsquaringl up, fold .fsc'ori-ng,and:suriace-nishing molded fpu'lp articles ."Whichl hasf'irnale and f'emalef Id=ies1vvhich are normally separated and at least one of which is movabflerelative tofthe=ther, wherein there are reciprocailyzoper'atingarticle receivingvgudes adapted lto .floefinserin-edFasiasectionlof1 a gravity type dischargefchnterforithelmoldedpulparticles and to` lsupporti-Seach-iarticleasit passes lthrough the chute until i thelipress is Sclosed-s'u-iociently Ato support the article whereuponthefsupportfguides are Withdrawn Whenthefdies arelclosed--and then returned I towtheir 1 articl'eilsupporting position-@to support 'the.articl'efafterfthe presslislopened and the. pressed articles:hasbeenrdischargedlfroml the dies.

f-Still another important iobject 'ofthe invention is an:automaticatypeipress for nioldedpulparticles ada'ptedrtothe *located intermediate the ends of -a gravity'rchuteifor such-'articles and Airicli-iding a stationary hfemale die,;a movable male diefbelovv thev Vfemale die,I vreciprocally foperating f guides on oppositeisides off-'the space between the 'dies when the pressis opened :and operable to :support iai-1d guide-each `article into 1 the press. priori to i closing and-iftofsupport-and .guide each article 'out Y of the press whenr it'is-"opened,' and raiseparately operable score formingfdie membervlocated inthe niale die adapted VAto cooperatewiththe .femaleidie toI forni a Ifold score inv each :article :when llthenfpress is closedwand rto cooperatel with th'eguides tof-*serve as an .fintermediate-supporti for' Aeach `--article f as itis fied.' into-the; pr'esstpri'orfto closing--and-A again when:the-:presslisropene'd andthe article isdischarged.

Certain 2 otherffobjects 'of' theliIm/errtion will, in part, fbe' ebviousland f'Will, 'in part,v appear hereinafter.

Forziaxmore compietc understandin-g of vthe chute leading from the stripper of an automatic type molded pulp article making machine to a conveyor for removing the nished articles therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view on enlarged scale of the press shown in Fig. 1 with certain parts of the press shown in a diii'erent position of operation;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the press taken from the left-hand side of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing the relationship of the parts when the press is closed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlarged scale and partly in vertical section of the mating dies and associated mechanism as viewed in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View with certain parts shown in elevation and taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section through the dies in closed condition and showing the means for forming fold scores in the articles being pressed;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the lower die taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational View showing the dies in closed condition;

Fig. l is `a fragmentary top plan view taken along line Ill-I ll of Fig. 2 and showing the latching mechanism for the upper die block of the press;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the latching mechanism shown in Fig. l0;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view on en- Y larged scale taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic View showing the control mechanism for the molded pulp article finishing press of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. l a finishing press is indicated, generally, at which forms one embodiment of the present invention and which is combined with and positioned in a gravity feed egg carton discharge chute, the upper section of which is indicated a 6 and the lower section of which is indicated at 1. This discharge chute corresponds to any one of the discharge chutes 6I described in my copending application Serial No. 134,229 filed December 2l, 1949. The upper section 6 of the chute leads from a carton stripper (not shown) such as the stripper forming the subject matter of my copending application. Such a stripper serves to strip dry molded pulp egg cartons of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,455,295 from an automatic apparatus for forming such articles, including pulp molding equipment and article drying equipment. Molded pulp egg cartons 8 fall by gravity through the discharge chute and are discharged 'by the bottom section 'I upon a conveyor mechanism indicated at II) which leads to equipment for printing and stacking the finished articles.

The molded pulp egg cartons 8 are of the 2 x 6 two-section type and each carton has a bottom section and a cover section. Threesection 2 X 6 cartons are also made commercially such as those disclosed in the copending application of Ruth lVl. Schilling Serial No. 632,331, led December 3, 1945, now U. S. Patent 2,600,130. It will be understood that the apparatus of the present invention is applicable to the three-section cartons as well as the two-section cartons.

In most molded pulp machines, a plurality of the molded articles will be formed simultaneously across the width of the machine. Accordingly, there will be a number of parallel discharge chutes leading from the stripper onto the conveyor I9, and in each of these chutes an automatic type finishing press 5 will be positioned. The apparatus and arrangement shown in Fig. l can thus be duplicated as many times as are required, depending upon the number of discharge chutes for a particular installation.

While the egg cartons 8 are formed and stripped at a uniform rate, there may be some variation in their timing, and in order to control the release of the cartons through the discharge chute, particularly where there are a plurality of such chutes, a gate is provided in the upper section S of each chute. This gate is operated in synchronism withthe stripper and with the gates of other chutes. For example, in Fig. l such a gate is indicated at I I in broken line and is operated from the stripper by means of a connecting rod I2. Referring to my aforementioned copending application Serial No. 134,229, the gate II corresponds to one of the gates or dogs designated in that application by the reference numeral 69 and the connecting rod or operating member I2 corresponds to one of the connecting rods 12 so designated and referred to in said application. It will be understood that the connecting rod I2 is reciprocated at a rate corresponding to the rate at which the egg cartons are stripped and discharged into the chute section E.

In Fig. l, the gate lI takes the formvof an elongated member having a projection I3 on the bottom end and a projection I4 on the upper end. The gate II is Supported on a pin I5 to which there is also connected a bell crank lever IB. The bottom end of the connecting rod I2 is pivotally connected at Il to one arm of the 'bell crank lever I6 and the other arm thereof is pivotally connected at I8 to a lever 20 which serves to operate the trip mechanism for lowering the mechanism to stop the egg cartons at the right position within the press 5, as Will be more fully described below.

Each egg carton 8 passing through the discharge chute is normally stopped in the press 5 and the press then operates automatically to close male and female die members, at least one of which is preferably heated, so as to impart a smooth ironed or calendered finish to the egg carton and also to square up and straighten out any distortions or warps therein. Thereupon, the press is automatically opened and the iinished article permitted to drop by gravity through the chute section 'I and onto the conveyor I0.

The press 5 is supported on a suitable frame structure which is indicated generally at 2l. The details of the frame structure 2| are not important in so far as the present invention is concerned and a detailed description of the frame will not be given.

The main stationary parts of the press 5 comprise a middle blocl; 22, a top bloclr 23, and a lbottom block 24. These blocks are secured together in their respective spaced relationships by a pair of side plates 25-25 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which are bolted to the blocks in known manner, as shown. Preferably, the blocks 22, 23 and 2li are in the form of castings in which the proper openings and cavities are formed.

The blocks 22, 23 and 24 are rigidly supported from the frame 2I in a suitable manner and the various moving parts of the press '5 are properly assembled and supported for movement on eea-ronca the stationary. parts. Thazpressres hydraulically operated;,by-means fof ai hydraulicicylirzder attached to the I bottom hlockt. The piston rod on thecylinder 26. is:- oonnectedaatzthe. outer end;with;I a cross headf 21 to @which two :links ZS-Z-foi a tosglecmechanisnnarepivotally foonnected.as;indicatedatt. nach ofjthezlinks 42 B isy pivotally .eonnectedatz itoiagnairoftoggle links S2- +132 r and each... set of .the-stessi@ ilinks 32e-:32 is pvotally.; connected'onreine .v -end yto :a stationary mm3-:Senden therotlier endft ai ein lizarriedfon ears :35.:+5 4projecting fr. Yn :the bottom-.ofibloclgfiheipurposegof neel@ mirage-:mechanismen to; ultiplycth@ i0. er deiiveredrbvzthe hydraulcfyluder; 26 andztliereby reduce the size of the cylinder required.

v1t T W-ill he:understoodV thai-@as the pistengon the hydrau1io-cy1inder-26 1 is forced outwardlyrso as 11o-thereby movethe headg2l upwardly, thegtogele 1inlrs'f32-32 are straightened somewhatoand the block 3 6 is forced upwardly a- -distance,- somewhat less than the distance moved` hy the piston of the hydraulic cylinder .2.5, and -dependentgupon the -mec-hanioal advantage of the l toggle links The block 35 serves to `lsupport at ;the corners thereof --four rods #3l-3l Which-carry on their upper ends ,avblock 38 supporting the male. die 40 (Fig-2) ofthe press-5. "Each of ,the four'l rods 37 is threaded. at opposite ends4 and each rod-is securedat the lowerendtoone of the corners of the block 36bymeans ofa pair of nuts. lli-ll! drawn `up tight on oppositesidesf thereof. The upper threaded ends of the rods 31 yproject through openings provided therefor .in thehlock Sfandnuts. i2-#l2 aregztightened--gdown thereon to` prevent the threaded:ends .from-pulling out. The rods 37 project and. slide .through transverse openings lit- A3 provided thereforin the stationary block 22 and alsoythrough holesJisl- M provided therefor in a movable,l spring supported block li connected to the stationarylolock 22 by ay plurality of .connecting bolts 4(546 (Fig. 2). The bolts 45. project throughv the .central web 4 7. of .the block.22 and the vlow-er .ends thereof are provided-.with nuts 48-4'8 which bearagainst the .bottoni of the web Al. Thevholtsefliiearasnrrounded lfor the main lengthsl thereofiby )coinpression springs-ft. The bottom ends ofthe springs 5E! areisupported on the top-,surfaceof-the web 4l While theupper ends ofthefspringspress against the underside of. the top face of the. movable block 45. The bolts 4G `project beyond the top of the block i5 and are provided withfheads Elf-5! on `the upper .ends thereof .as shown "in Eigs 2 .and 6.

During .the upward movement of the block :S- S carrying the male die ll,the compression springs 5,0 cause the block 45 to. initiallyfollow the block 33. However, after a predetermined Vnpward movement of the block .has been completed, the boltheads 5i engage the topface-of the block 45 and arrest its further vmovement while block 38 continues its upward movementuntil thepress is fully closed.

'The male die el] is provided With-aseries-of carton liftingtappets 5 3-53 (Figs. 2and 8)\,. the headsof which are situated in the bottoms. ofthe pockets or vvalleys formedin the top side ofthe male `die'lf) as shown. There may. he. yas many as 1 6 of these spi'ngeloaded tappets .Strivhichextend downwardlyithrough the lolock aahdthe lowerheadsd of which press against the ,top face of vthegbloclr 45. The bottom ends of the tappets 53 are surrounded by compression .springs 5B-e5 Which-are; compressed" between the'.y bottoni ofLthel block ordievplatennt and' the'upper sides' sainaafteriftheipressfiscopenedra::pairrofire- @miserable frcerton; supports' or side .fraile 51-15'! areleroyidedeaohofiwhien,is;Carr dontheiiprer @indent-one f tWO sets Of-- armSfi5 8--15:8

rEachof the Wngablexarmsis provided with am integral .te (Eis. r2) zonV the-bottom; end thereeffwhch f pivota-lly lits over we fsunpertpin therefor projecting from the side of. the estationaryeblocklZ. lilac-h.l of the arms is provided miawayfpetween theeendsfthereof rwith a i roller 6 I which serves as a cam followerv to fol-1ow -acam erooveiorfeemtrek t2 4provided in each one of.: e set of four memberstGS-ES ghavirlgoplailprtions 'f-byrwhich ,theyfmey tbe .bolted to thefsides. of thBfmOvable-fblock8 :as sh0W11,r for.=.-examp1e, in Eigs. 3-1andf ,e i. .W-henetheihead S8 is-,infitsdower or retracted positionf, the: inoenfiloeifsff3-` :are/'correspondingly llowered -and the .camsslotsi ortraclrs k62-62 :arreso lshaped as tocause. tl1earms. ats-158 to swing..inwardlysoasto move theyre-i1- members 51,-ftowardfeachrothen and; into amar-.ton supporting position asfshowrr for-fexainple, in Fig. 3. In this` positionithej guides oryrail sections 51 -f orrn err-tensions of-the:y discharge. chutesections @pand f NVllenithepressvS-fis closed and `the headfis raised, -fthe.. ,camfollowers for rollers i will the shifted outwardlyand thearrns wwillialsdbe swung out fas 4shown, for s-example, y.in lirig.- v/lin whichgpos-itionhthe guides @5l-51,- no1. longer` supportianfjeggr .carton and donot interferew-ith; the final closingqtogetlier ofthe die tmemh ers :with :an egg carton postionedftherebetween.

,In. addition 4`to rdanish-ing the of .the molded `pir-lp i.,-articles.rf8 and -1 straightening any Warps )therein when theyware hotpressedin the press. .5, .it is desirable to formin the saine pressingf operation -a old .scorer or crease -zin :ther-pore tion 4of thelegg cartons-which longitudinally interconnectsftheibottorn andcoversections. According-ly, there... ,isf.,e1nho died in ,the press 5 mechanism. .fori-forming such .-fold f .scoring f or :creases vpfientherdiesoff` the press arefclosed together with oneof; thefcartoneytherebetween. .After the fold scoresorfhinge creases hav-v .eloeenl formed between thetcarton seetions, they tend fto sag Ain the middlerwhen the maledieffiilfis .retracted and the carton is supported. along the ilositefsides 'on theside railsel Accordingly, I havearranged oneof@ the crease., or score forming members in snchsa Waythat itialso servesthedual purpose of.,;s upportingeach cartoni-at the hinge between theicarton.sectionswhenithe; pressnis opened and the dies are separated The modiication of f the stationary femal. die

6 5 in .order ,toform ai hinge score, betweenthesections of:l an eggcarton involves the insertion in the, die of a creasingmember ,L1B in alongitudinel slot provided therefor i in the die block. I f 'Qther" fold scoresaretabe'formed in the egg oarton s a `ona1.:creas e1f 0rmine. members' may be inserted 1inv thefemale"`die '65 suchf for example, as the member |1| (Fig. 6) which islocated to cooperate in the formation of a hinge score in the carton side flap 9. If desired, the creasing elements |10 and |1 I may be integrally formed as part of the female die block.

The movable male die 45 is provided with crease forming members |12 and |13 (Fig. 6) which cooperate with the crease forming members ITI)A and |1I. Since the element |12 is to serve the dual purpose of affording an intermediate support for the articles 8 while the press is opened, it has to -be suitably supported with stop means in order that it will function in the desired manner. The crease forming element |13 which is cooperable with the element |1| may be inserted in a slot provided therefor in the male die 4U.

The crease forming bar |12 is in the form of a flat strip which is vertically reciprocable in elongated slot openings |14 and |15 machined in the male die 4G and spaced member |16. The spacer plate |16 supports the die 4|) on the platen member 38. In order to lubricate the creasing bar I1? and prevent its seizure in the slots |14 and |16, felt wipers |11- |11 are provided on opposite sides of the bar |12. The wipers |11 are seated in longitudinal recesses provided therefor in the spacer |16 along the opposite sides of the opening as shown.

The creasing bar |12 is supported at opposite ends by rods |18-|18, the upper ends of which are slotted so as to receive the ends of the bar |12. Set screws HiB-48|! serve to clamp each of the ends of the bar |12 in place. The rods |18 pass downwardly through holes |8||8| provided therefor in opposite ends of the platen 38 and in order to obtain smooth, non-binding operation, each of the holes |8| is provided at the top and bottom with sleeve bushings |32|82. Each of the rods |18 extends down through an opening |83 in the spring supported block 45 and is provided on its bottom end with a head |34 A compression spring |85 ts over the downwardly projecting end of each of the rods |18 and each of the springs |35 is compressed between the adjacent head |84 and the underside of the die platen 38 as shown in Fig. 5.

In view of the fact that the springs |85 are under compression, the creasing bar |12 is biased to a retracted position within the male die 4i) so as to tend to move with the male die 45 toward and away from the female die 65. However, in order that the creasing bar may serve the dual purpose of providing a cooperating support intermediate the side rails 51 for egg cartons 8 which are located in the press opening between the dies when the press 5 is opened, it is necessary to provide stop means which will prevent the creasing bar |12 from being withdrawn the full stroke that the male die 4D and the die platen 38 are withdrawn. One suitable means for so arresting the downward movement of the creasing bar |12 is to provide adjustable stops in the form of bolts |86| 86 which project upwardly through the web 41 of the stationary block 43 in coaxial alignment with the rods |18 as Shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The stop bolts |85 are provided with lock nuts |81 so that they may be securely locked in place once they are properly adjusted lfor engagement with the heads |84 on the rods |18.

The felt wipers |11 and the bushings |82 are supplied with lubricant by fittings ISD-|90 fastened to opposite sides of the spacer plate |16 by sets of stud bolts I9 9 These fittings provide chambers |92|92 around the upper lend of 8 and lubricant may be supplied to these chambers |92 through the inlet fittings |93-|93.

The creasing bar |12 is made of such a height relative to the thickness of the die 4|] and the spacer |46 so that when the die 4D and spacer |16 are fully withdrawn away from the female die 65 and the downward movement of the creaser bar |12 is arrested when the heads |84 engage the stop bolts |86, the bottom edge of the creaser bar |12 will not leave the slot opening |14 in the die 40. This relationship is shown in Fig. 6 and this feature prevents paper trimmings and other foreign material from entering the slot openings |14 and |15 and becoming lodged underneath the creasing bar |12 so as to interiere with its functioning.

Each time the male die 4|) begins its closing movement toward the stationary female die 65, the lifted creasing bar |12 remains stationary until the bottom edge of the creasing bar |12 is engaged by the top surface of the platen 38 as shown in Fig. 7. When this engagement with the platen 38 occurs, the heads |34 on the bottom of the support rods |18 leave the upper ends of the stop bolts |86. Accordingly, during the nal closing movement of the male die 4|) against an article 8 tting between it and the female die 65, the creasing bar |12 will be backed up by the platen 38 and will serve to yform a fold score or hinge crease |94 in the article as shown in Fig. '7.

In order to form a better crease or score, ther upper end of the bar |12 is provided with a slight recess or groove |95 which cooperates with the rounded end of the creasing element |16 carried by the stationary die 65. When the press is opened and the male die 46 is moved away from the stationary female die 65, the compression springs keep the creasing bar |12 in its downward position against the platen 38 until the heads i3d on the rods |18 engage the upper ends of the stop bolts |86, whereupon the downward movement of the creasing bar |12 is arrested and the springs |85 are further compressed while the die 4|) and the platen 38 continue their downward movement. This action causes the upper end of the creasing bar |12 to be retained in an elevated position in respect to the die 40 so as to provide a center rail support for the carton 8 intermediate the reciprocal side rails 51. Such support prevents the carton from sagging unduly in the middle which it otherwise would do along the hinge score formed during the pressing operation.

The female die 65 is carried on a cover block 66 which is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper side on a rod 61 (Fig, l) carried by the stationary block 23. The lower side of the block 66 is provided with means for releasably locking and latching it in its closed position. The latching mechanism includes a pair of hooks 68 which are adapted to catch under a bar 15 (Figs. 2 and ll) extending between the side plates 25-25 and supported thereon by means of end plates 1|-1|. The hooks 68 do not engage the bar itself but do engage a work-hardened plate 12 which is secured thereto by stud bolts 13--13. In order to compensate for wear, a shim 14 (Fig. 1l) of suitablel thickness may beinserted between the bar 1U and the plate 12.

The hooks 68 have integrally formed hubs 15 which nt over collars 16 (Fig. 12) which are eccentrically mounted on a rocker shaft 11 journaled at opposite ends in bearings 18-18 formed integrally on the cover 66. In order to turn the each of the rods |18 beneath the creasing bar |12 7:5 shaft 11, a, pair of spaced arms 19e-19 are rigidly ductor |24 and is thus interconnected with one terminal of the current source |22. Ordinarily, the conductor I 24 will be connected to the ground terminal of the current source. The other terminal of the solenoid unit |25 is connected by a conductor |21 to one of the terminals of the microswitch ||2. The other terminal of the microswitch ||2 is connected by a conductor |23 to a terminal |30 of a solenoid operated, double-pole, double-throw switch indicated generally at |3|. In addition to the terminal |30, the switch |3| includes terminals |32, |33 and |34. The movable operating member |35 of the switch |3| carries contacts |36 and |31. When the member |35 is in its upper position, the contact |36 engages and closes acircuit between the terminals |30 and |32. When the member |35 is in its alternate or downward position, the contact |31 engages and closes a circuit between the terminals |33 and |34. The terminals |32 and |34 are connected in circuit relationship with the conductor l2 by means of a conductor |38.

The solenoid unit |40 of the switch |3| has two terminals |4| and |42. The terminal |4| is interconnected with the conductor |24 by means of a conductor |43, while the terminal |42 is connected to the conductor 4 by means of a conductor |44.

One of the two terminals of the solenoid unit 95 is connected by a conductor |45 to the terminal |33 of the switch I3 I. The second terminal of the solenoid unit 95 is connected by a conductor |46 to the conductor |24.

The double-acting solenoid Valve unit H is supplied with oil or other hydraulic iiuid under pressure through a supply line |41 which connects with a supply pressure pump |48. In the supply line |41 a manually operable control valve |50 is located which can be adjusted so as to regulate the rate at which the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the unit ||8 so as to in turn control the speed with which the press 5 operates. The pump |48 is driven by an electric motor |5| with the motor and pump unit being mounted on a suitable base |52. The iiuid return line from. theunit ||3 is indicated at |53. Ordinarily the pump will operate continuously and excess pressure in the supply line |50 is relieved by means of a relief valve |54 located therein and discharging into the return vline |53 through the connection |55. Hydraulic fluid to operate and close the carton press is supplied to the pressure cylinder 23 from the double-acting solenoid valve unit H0 through a supply line |50. The line |56 also serves as a return line when the press is opened and the piston within the cylinder 26 is retracted. The hydraulic fluid under pressure for opening the press is supplied to the opposite end of the cylinder 26 by means of a supply line |51. The line |51 also serves as a return line when the press is closed.

In operation: In normal operation the shaft |03 (Fig. 13)l will be driven and rotated along with the stripper mechanism which serves to strip the dried molded pulp egg cartons from the conveyor by which they are carried through the drying tunnel. The drying tunnel and the stripper form portions of the over-all automatic apparatus for forming the molded pulp cartons from wet stock or pulp slurry. Upon each rotation of the shaft |03, the connectingrod or link |2 is reciprocated so as to operate the carton control gate in the chute section 6, first to the open position and then to the closed position. In the open position, the gate; allows me Of the cartons 8 to slide down into the press 5 which is in the open condition with the `dies separated..

At the same time, the rear projection |4 on the gate holds back any cartons 8 that may re- 5 main in the chute 6 above the gate.

Each carton slides down into the press 5 and rides in on the side guides or rails 51--51 and the top edge of the creasing bar |12 as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. At the time the gate is raised..

- ,the connecting link 20 is moved up and serves to trip the catch 81 which holds up the stop mechanism for the press 5. When this mechanism is tripped, the spring 85 causes the stop members 80 to be lowered to their position as 15 1 shown in Fig. 3 where they obstruct and arrest the movement of the carton as it drops or slides into the press 5.

The cam projection |01 on the wheel |05 (Fig. 13) carried on the shaft |03 leads the cam memzggber |05 on the cam wheel |04 by a suitable number of degrees so that `as the shaft |03 rotates the cam |01 will rst engage the contact member ||0 of the microswitch ||2, thereby closing this switch momentarily until the cam member |01 Zfdisengages the contact member H0.

Closure of the microswitch ||2 serves to energize the solenoid unit |25 which is the unit which operates the double-acting solenoid valve I|8 in such a way as to supply the hydraulic fluid under pressure through the line |56 to the rear (e. g.

bottom) of the pressure cylinder 26. The solenoid carton stop controller switch |3| is normally positioned where the contact member engages the terminals |30 and |32, thereby com- 35 n pleting the circuit between the microswitch ||2 through the conductor |28 and through conductor |38 which is connected by conductor |2| to one of the terminals of the current source |22. The other terminal of the current source |22 is 0; connected through conductors |23 and |23 to the other terminal of the solenoid unit |25.

When the hydraulic iiuid under pressure is thus admitted to the base of the pressure cylinder 26, the piston of the cylinder is forced out (i. e.

L15.. up) so as to raise the block 36 of the press 5 by means of the toggle connection. As the block 33 is raised, the four posts 31-31 are lifted and carry upwardly on the upper ends thereof the die platen 38 on which the male die 40 is supported. The compression springs cause the "block 45 to follow the block 38 for 'a portion of the upper movement of the latter. As the block 38 moves up, the cam rollers 6| are forced out as they follow the cam tracks 62 of the members 5 5, 63. In turn, the arms 58 supporting the carton guide or support rails 51 are moved out to the position in Fig. 4. The platen 38 continues to rise until the carton 8 to be pressed is rmly pressed between the male die 40 and the female 6m di@ 65 which serves to arrest the final upward movement of the male die 40.

When the platen 38 during its closing movement engages the bottom edge of the creasing bar |12, it carries the creasing bar with it during 65.) the remainder of the closing stroke and lifts the bolt heads |84 on the rods |10 off from the stop bolts |86. The element |10 carried by the female die 55 to form the fold score or hinge crease |84 as illustrated in Fig. 7.

The cam member |05 is so positioned on the cam wheel |04 (Fig. 13) that shortly after the press has been closed the cam member |06 engages the Contact member |08 of the microswitch thereby closing the same. At this time the cam |01 will have already disengaged the conageaogeoa;

tact :member I Ioftheimicroswitchll I2 this'r switehwill be openeel Whenzthea-microswitch'f I I I is closed, the solenoid .unit :1I I I of :ther-douhle'. acting solenoid valve-1 I I8 willbefenergizediromw thercurrent source I22 .and'the unitil I8\.'-Will:.ber operated so as todeliver the hydraulic".fluid` und'er. pressure: through ,thea line I 51 :toz the fupper side? of '.thefpiston and "the pressediicylinderri Hy.;- draulic duid' will be dischargedrthrough fthe liner: 25d and; returned' throughr the lin-gc,` I to: the" 1o?, pump. It: They piston isuretracted initheJ-:cylinra der I 2G andthe pressbloclifsisfthereby lowered'. carrying with it` the maledielltl.- Asutheapressn' is thus opened., the -Vside rails baretretractedi toitheir innerposition as shown-1in Figsr Sand115l 6 and the die iblock :38:1 is` vsu.fliciently'; lovveredff'fso'l thatthe bottom heads ilfnn'jthentappetst 'striker the :upper surface ofthezlifted block-'t5andxcause`v the tappetheads -to raise,l thereby freeinglthe? carton :from :the #male `die lille Thepartsfarerso'; 20C dimensioned and their: actions related-zthatcas soon` as-the: cart-onA is thus` freed; it contes :to' rest 1 on the guide rails El and thefcreasingibarI 'I2 and: the--continued downward :movement `of.' the die block efreesfthe .carton from tire-maleA die; fr 25j; During-theopening of the-.presa the'creasingibar is withdrawn along: with .the male-#dien 6153:? and platen .33 until the bolt heads lliwofthefrodsrzllf strike the upper ends.'v of the. stop bolts. l ISG,A whereupon the retraction A'of thecreasi-ngbar Ilz.I 30.; is arrested.

The upper'and-:closing movement .of thesfrnaledie :iiIl l.serves Atov reset thecarton `stop- .irtech'anism. n including the. stop `ingersl .SII-80.' Thatvis; the'.-

iingers 52|1 are-raised and the-side-f-ar-ms Salaire-355;

pivoted around the. shaft 83 yso that the hook it is again Vengaged and held by the :hook oricatchg BTI. The :pressed carton. is thereby.v allowed-to slide. out -ot theI press.- into. chute-.secti-on 'iandf onto. the conveyor I0.

The above. completes `the cycle-ofthe-.opera tion V,which is repeated duringr the .operationen the machine.

There maybe -izistaricesinv which itis. desired l to open the press 5 or to `keep t-it open lWliilefthe:y carton :making machine is in operation? The 45 manually operable switch-TI I9 serves-'as an emer.- y genot' orcontinl.switchfor'thisa'purpose;y It lwill 'ce seen that when switch II9':is--closed,.the'sole--fI noid unit: I Il l.of theunit vI IS-.isirenergiaedf and r.. serves to open the press inthe lmanner described 50 aboveandtohold it open so long as this unit is:- energized.- At the same ftmehtliat.the-.switch I It? is vclosed and energizes the-solenoid uniti I1,-. it. .will also. .be seen. that :thea-solenoid.. :I 40- is enfergized. and the. switch` I3Iis Operatedso.thatf thecontactmember- 36 disengages .the:terminals.fy I 3tand I 32 and the contact..memberfr| 3l fes-tab:- f lishes a circuit between they terminals -,I33f-.and. i341. The closing. of. the latter .contacts.servestoi4 complete .the .circuit to Y.the `solenoid-unit l95 .and 60 thisunitserves to lift .the operatinglink as.A described above. Sothatthe elongated .slotsll is. engaged by the .pin 532i Thus,. the .member -.2II can. continue .to reciprocate Without. :tripping .thestop mechanism which..includesthe` stop :Fingers or. 65 prongs 8B.

lt v/illbe notedthat so longastheswitch I IQ remainsclosed, the circuitv to` the solenoid unit IZof the'press control valve cannot ',beclosed and it is impossible'or thepresstobe .closedac-xy V7() cidentally.

Preferaolyone4 orbotlroi. thepress;.di'es.is heated jin order to vobtain abetter pressing .aotion. That. is; .a .cartoncan be. squared-.upfiastem and given a smoother nish when atleast one 75k ofith'e dies ist-heated: The.f diezrnay44 beh'eated either.' electricallyforfby means 'of "a circulating liot-ifluid. suchia'ssteamror oil. The-particular details' lofthe @heating arrangement lare :not im# portant I' and any: suitable known arrangement mayb'e made:` Thetemperature should' be high butwithout danger offs'corohing orr burning the molded pulpi cartons:

and: Itfi V'through-1Which `.steam or other heating .turni mayr :be introduced into and withdrawn th'ehollowinterior"of'the' die block.

IZiO

maflwirrithe embodiment ofthe inventionrdeandscope of the invention. For-example, modifications may be made in the electrical control circuits andthe control systems for operatingthe press-5.

operated rnechanism.v

in the artf timedandpressed asdescr-ibedf Having fully. described I ing/'invention' and.:Y set.. forth the y presently'preferred` embodiment there# oiywh'at isclaimed as .new isf:

l.' A iinishingspress for pressingand'fold Scorings molded." pulp Iarticles v and adapted .tosbe l0.-

llof-cated v'in a kconveyorchute for said articles,com

prising, kmatingimale. and `female-.dies vatleast one oi'which is niovablyY supported', Vmeans for opening-and closingsaid dies, parallel article side support lmembers reciprocally mounted. on` oppo-z site sides ofthe opening between."saidl-diesfand" adapted to'formrwcontinuations of said. conveyor chute', ineansoperatively connecting said support "members with afinovable dievwherecy said! members are separated uponv closure' of said dies and are closed to article :supporting position upon: theopening of said fdiesf. an elongatedarticlescoringmember oooperable with. said dies. for

forminga Lfold score fin an article' pressedL th'ere-v Y between` Aand .independently mounted for move-'l ment in `anelongated slot. opening Ain said mov' able '.die; and-'actuating means operativelycom nected with `saidfarticle scoring member'for Are-` tainin'githe same in a retracted article vsupporting positionfinterm edi'atesaid reciprocable 'side support members whenf said vpress is-open.

2Ly A finishing y-pressffor `pressing and-fold scoringr molded .pulp articlesand adapted to be locatedbetweenupper and lowersections ofa `gravity discharge)chute,v comprising, mating male and female. dies 1 arrangedV in superposed' relationship; stationary-support means vfor the-upper-die;

between said "dies atleast large enough to allow entry. and escape of eachr article pressed,A a; pair. o article .side support .rails,.support.means for said railswherebv theyr arencyclically.rnovabletcf an article supporting position in opposite sides of In. Fig; 13 the-female. die {iilis .sliownlwith inlet and 'outletconnections I 60T ill belunderstood thatcertain changes and ations -voi av detail *designfnature' maybe 4ed above in connection with the aceompany-y i ing draWingsfWi-thOutdeparting from the spirit Tli'e-y mechanical linkages lfor operatingI the car-ton gate II'and the carton stops 8! mayA` he rep-lacedv withr electrically or hydraulicallyVv Other variations` of vlilt'e nature-will'be:apparent and occur to those skilled said press opening when said lower die is retractedand retractable to a position outside of said press opening when said lower die is raised to closed position, actuating means operatively interconnecting said rails with said actuating means for said lower die, an elongated article creasing bar slidably disposed in a slot opening therefor in said lower die and cooperable with a mating scoring portion on said upper die, the planes of said slot opening and said creasing bar being parallel to each other as well as parallel to the direction of movement of said lower die, said creasing bar being raised to closed position aiong with said lower die, and stop means for said creasing bar for retaining it in a raised position in said slot opening to support an article in said press opening in cooperation with said support rails when said smovable die is retracted to its lowered position.

3. A finishing press for pressing and fold scoring molded pulp articles and adapted to be located between upper and lower sections of a gravity discharge chute, comprising, mating male and female dies arranged one above the other, stationary support means for the upper one of said dies, movable support means for the lower one of said dies, actuating means operatively connected with said movable support means for cyclically closing said movably supported die against said stationary die and for retracting it therefrom so as to provide a press opening between said dies at least large enough for entry and escape of each article pressed, a pair of article support rails, support arms for each of said rails pivotally mounted on a fixed portion of said press so that said rails are swingable into article supporting relationship within said press opening between said dies when the dies are separated and swingable out of said press opening when said dies are closed, actuating means operatively interconnecting said rail support arms with said movable die support means, an elongated article scoring bar slidably operable in a slot opening provided therefor in said movable die and cooperable with a mating scoring portion of said stationary die, the planes of said slot opening and said scoring bar being parallel to each other as well as parallel to the direction of movement of said lower die, connecting means operatively interconnecting said scoring bar with said movable die whereby said bar is brought into its closed position along with said movable die, and stop means for said scoring bar for retaining said bar in raised position to support an article in said press opening in cooperation with said support rails when said movable die is retracted from its closed position.

4. A finishing press for pressing and fold scoring molded. pulp articles and adapted to be located between upper and lower sections of a gravity discharge chute, comprising, mating male and female dies arranged with the female die superposed over said male die, means for stationarily supporting said female die, a platen for said male die, support means for said platen permitting it to raise said male die to a closed pressing position and to retract said male die to a lowered position so as to provide a press opening between said dies at least large enough to allow entry and escape of each article therethrough, actuating means operatively connected with said platen for cyclically raising and retracting said platen, a pair of article support rails, support arms for each of said rails pivotally mounted on a fixed portion of said press so 1'6 that said rails are swingable into article supporting relationship within said press opening when said male die is lowered and swingable out of said press opening when said male die is raised to closed position, actuating means operatively interconnecting said rail support arms with said platen, an elongated article creasing bar slidably disposed in a slot opening in said male die extending in parallel alignment with said article support rails and projecting through said male die to the top face of said platen, the

planes of said slot opening and said creasing bar l being parallel to each other as well as parallel to the direction of movement of said lower die, spring means operatively connected with said creasing bar for biasing it in a lowered position in said slot opening so that said bar is supported on said platen, and stop means for said creasing bar disposed to retain it in a raised position in said slot opening to support an article in said press opening in cooperation with said support rails when said platen and male die are retracted to their lowered position.

5. A nishing press for pressing and fold scor- Iing molded pulp articles and adapted to be located between upper and lower sections of a gravity discharge chute, comprising, a stationary die support, a die mounted on said stationary support, a stationary block spaced away from and parallel to said stationary die support, a movable die platen carried on connecting rods projecting through said stationary block, a die on said platen mating with said stationary die, a follower block slidably mounted on said connecting rods intermediate said stationary block and said platen, a plurality of bolts extending through openings provided therefor in said follower block with the ends of bolts being secured to said stationary block and the heads of said bolts located intermediate said follower block and said platen, compression springs surrounding the Shanks of said bolts and compressed between said stationary block and said follower block so as to force said follower block away from said stationary block and to follow said platen, said bolt heads being located so as t-o arrest the following movement of said follower block before said platen carries said die mounted thereon into closing relationship with said stationary die, press actuating means operatively connected to said connecting rods for cyclically operating said platen to close and open said press, a pair of article support rails, a pair of support arms for each of said rails, each of said arms being pivotaliy mounted adjacent one end to said stationary block and supporting one of said rails adjacent its opposite end so that said rails are swingable into article supporting relationship within the press opening between said dies when said platen is fully retracted from said stationary die and swingable out of said press opening when said dies are closed together, actuating means for each of said rails comprising a cam follower and a cam track one of which is carried by one of said arms and the other of which is carried by said platen, an elongated article creasing bar slidably disposed in a slot opening in said male die extending in parallel alignment with said article support rails and projecting through said male die to the adjacent face of said platen, the planes of said slot opening and said creasing bar being parallel to each other as well as parallel to the direction of movement of said lower die, asupport rod on each end of said bar projecting back through a guide opening therefor in said platen and through a registering opening in said follower block, a head on the rear end of each of said support rods, a coil spring fitting over each of said support rods and compressed between said head and said platen so as to force said creasing bar onto said platen, and stop bolts carried by said stationary block in position to engage said support rod heads and arrest the movement of said creasing bar as said platen is retracted so as to retain said creasing bar in said press opening to support an article therein in cooperation with said support rails when said press is open.

6. A nishing press for pressing and fold scoring molded pulp articles and adapted to be located between upper and lower sections of a gravity discharge chute, comprising, a stationary die support, a die mounted on said stationary support, a stationary block spaced away from and parallel to said stationary die support, a movable die platen carried on connecting rods projecting through said stationary block, a die on said platen mating with said stationary die, a follower block slidably mounted on said connecting rods intermediate said stationary block and said platen, a plurality of bolts extending through openings provided therefor in said follower block with the ends of bolts being secured to said stationary block and the heads of said bolts located intermediate said follower block and said platen, compression springs surrounding the Shanks of said bolts and compressed betweenA said stationary block and said follower block so as to force said follower block away from said stationary block and to follow said platen, said bolt heads being located so as to arrest the following movement of said follower block before said platen carries said die mounted thereon into closing relationship with said stationary die, press actuating means operatively connected to said connecting rods for cyclically operating said platen to close and open said press, a pair of article support rails, a pair of support arms for each of said rails, each of said armsbeing pivotally mounted adjacent one end to said stationary block and supporting one of said rails adjacent its opposite end so that said rails are swingable into article supporting relationship within the press opening between said dies when said platen is fully retracted from said stationary die and swingable out of said press opening when i3 said dies are closed together, actuating means for each of said rails comprising a cam follower and a cam track. one of which is carried by one of said arms and the other of which is carried by said platen, a plurality of headed tappets exe tending through said platen and said die thereon with the heads disposed toward said follower block, compression springs fitting around each oi said tappets and compressed between said platen and said tappet heads so as to retain said heads in contact with said follower block, said tappets being of such length that the ends thereof projecting in said die on said platen will be projected sufliciently to free a pressed article from the die when said platen is retracted and will be located in said movable die when it is closed with said stationary die, an elongated article creasing bar slidably disposed in a slot opening in said male die extending in parallel alignment with said article support rails and projecting through said male die to the adjacent face of said platen, the planes of said slot opening and said creasing bar being parallel to each other as well as parallel to the direction of movement of said lower die, a support rod on each end of said bar projecting back through a guide opening therefor in said platen and through a registering opening in said follower block, a head on the rear end of each of said support rods, a coil spring tting over each of said support rods and compressed between said head and said platen so as to force said creasing bar onto said platen, and stop bolts carried by said stationary block in position to engage said support rod head and arrest the movement of said creasing bar as said platen is retracted so as to retain said creasing bar in said press opening to support an article therein in cooperation with said support rails when said press is open.

ALFRED E. COMSTOCK.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 241,309 Davis et al May 10, 1881 771,090 Pugh Sept. 27, 1904 1,570,710 Schenck et al Jan. 26, 1926 1,778,934 Chapman Oct. 21, 1930 2,238,698 Kraust Aug. 15, 1941 2,515,113 Chaplin July 11, 1950 

